Contents
Description
Pisco (from the Indian dialect pisco – flying bird) – an alcoholic beverage made from Muscat grapes. Pisco belongs to a class of brandy and is the national Peruvian and Chilean drink. The strength of the drink is about 35-50.
History
With the advent of the beverage from the tribe of Macupa there is a legend about desperate sailors who went on a reed boat in search of the centre of the Earth. According to them, it was on the island “Those pita o Te Henua”. The way was long, and when hope has left the Braves, they saw a bird Pisco, which led them to the goal. Since then this bird has earned recognition and became a symbol of freedom.
Europeans discovered the island thanks to the Dutch Navigator Jakob Roggeveen, who visited this land on 5 April 1722, the day of the Resurrection. The island got a name in honor of the Christian holiday “Easter”. It was the Spaniards Chileans who discovered the secret of the distillation of the grape must of which produced a lovely drink. It gat the name in honor of the legendary birds Pisco.
Currently, they produce Pisco in Chile and Peru. But each of these countries is fighting for the right to call itself the homeland of the drink. Involved informal Chilean holiday “Day of Piccoli”, which is held annually on 8th of February. Piscicola is the most popular cocktail based on the beverage. It is made from Pisco, Cola, and ice in a ratio of 3:1.
Production process
There are some differences in the production of Peruvian and Chilean Pisco. So in Peru, the drink is made by distilling grape wine svezhesvarennogo. Distillation is a one-off and the output formes a drink with a strength of about 43. The beverage dilution with water is strictly prohibited by the law of Peru. For the production of Chilean Pisco, they use the “heart” of the distillate from grapes grown in five Sunny valleys of the Andes.
The binding is the exposure of the drink in oak barrels 250-500 litres. Also drink can be made from one (Puro) or more (Acholado) grape varieties. Depending on the types of Pisco, it ages from 2 to 10 months.
Pisco can be both an aperitif and as digestif. Depending on the temperature of the drink it’s best to serve it in different glasses. Chilled pure Pisco of high quality is best in vodka glasses and of room temperature – in brandy glasses. The cheaper grades are good for Pisco cocktails.
Place of production
The grapes for Chilean pisco grow in several narrow sunny valleys with fertile soil, irrigated by rugged local rivers that run down the slopes of the Andes and fall into the Pacific Ocean. Unofficially, this wine-growing region has a name the “Five Valles of Pisco” (valles pisqueros): Copiapó, Vallenar, Elqui, Limarí and Choapa. Their names often appear on labels.
The most famous varieties of Pisco are: PiscoTradicional, Especial, Reservado and Gran.
Benefits of Pisco
Pisco at the expense of its composition is good for the therapeutic purposes to prepare tinctures, as disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. Also in the process of production of the drink enriched with biologically active and tannins, the grape essential oils, which have a positive effect on the human body.
The positive impact of Pisco on the body is possible only in moderation – no more than 50 g per day.
Drink Pisco before bed to relieve fatigue, muscular and nervous tension. If to drink after meals it promotes the secretion of gastric juice, which accelerates the process of digestion.
Pisco has an effect on blood pressure. For a short period of time, the drink lowers blood pressure through vasodilation. However, after some time there is the opposite effect – the pressure begins to grow. Therefore, this drink is good for people with chronically low blood pressure and systemic breakdown. 20 ml of Pisco helps with vascular spasms, leading to headaches.
Treatment with Pisco
When hypothermia you can add Pisco to hot tea with honey and lemon. This remedy will help you quickly get warm, to prevent colds and if increasing the temperature will help to reduce it.
Sore throat caused by a cold, flu, or other viral infections will help to overcome the tincture, made of Pisco and crushed aloe leaf (30 g.). You should leave the mixture to infuse in a dark place day, then take a teaspoon before meals 3 times a day. In combination with this tool, you can use the compress on the throat. This requires Pisco mixed with warm water in proportion 1:2, the solution to impregnate the gauze and apply to the throat. So the liquid evaporated as slowly as possible, place on the top the polyethylene and wool scarf.
Pisco can be good as a component in the preparation of face masks and masks for hair. Particularly effective the drink will be when applied to oily skin. The alcohol contained in the drink have a drying effect and tightens the exits of the sebaceous glands.
Harm of Pisco and contraindications
Pisco is not recommended for people suffering from diabetes, hypertension, cholelithiasis.
The drink is also not working with drugs, and the combination with some may cause anaphylactic shock, toxic poisoning, and coma. Such drugs include tranquilizers, neuroleptics, antidepressants, antibiotics, neuroblastoma, pacemakers, psychotropic drugs and others.
Consumption of Pisco during pregnancy and breastfeeding may lead to violation of mental and physical development of the child. Banned the use of Pisco for children up to 18 years.
